Monday, December 31, 2018

GoodBye 2018


The last month of 2018 has come and gone and it is time to evaluate and make changes.  I didn't end the collaborative calendar project as enthusiastically as I began it, but I did finish!

I don't think I posted November, so here it is:


I'm very happy about the change in my journaling practice, however.  I can thank Roz Stendahl for influencing me to consolidate to a single journal and I'm glad that I did.  I'm enjoying everything about it.  As I look back I see that this consolidation was a goal for 2018, so I can be satisfied that this has been accomplished.

As I think about what goals I might have for 2019, I'm contemplating the "art of letting go" and whether it might be time to let go of some of my rubber stamp collection.  Yet as I look at these last two months of the calendar project, I notice how many stamps I used! 


Saturday, December 29, 2018

The Art of Letting Go


This was the day I cleaned out my drawer of jeans.  I said good-by to seven pairs.  Those remaining are breathing easier, as am I; I needed to let them go.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Christmas Angels


When I was a child, my father worked at a wholesale company that imported various kinds of housewares and general merchandise.  Each Christmas, he would receive a turkey voucher and a ceramic angel as a Christmas gift.  The angels now line my mantelpiece each Christmas.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Cars!


Just when I ran out of chickadee photos, my friend Janice posted some cars from Palm Springs on her blog.  




Keep them coming, Janice!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Working With a Minimal Palette


My Slippers, another project from Learn to Paint in Watercolor with 50 Paintings, by Wil Freeborn

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Succulent


This is another painting from the Wil Freeborn book, Learn to Paint in Watercolor with 50 Paintings.

Monday, December 17, 2018

A Drawing Project Too?


I seem to have started a drawing project too.  Inspired by Jean Mackay, I have started drawing chickadees, from photos posted on Paint My Photo.  Jean says that if you practice drawing chickadees from photos, you will be able to draw them live when they visit your garden.

Chickadees are my favorite bird, and they visit my garden every month of the year.  There is a nut tree right above my kitchen window, and when I am cooking, their little faces and birdsong make me smile.  They never stay in one place long enough for me to draw them, so maybe this project will help make that possible.  

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Another Watercolour Project


I don't want to lose the skills that I learned in Joanne Sharpe's watercolour class.  The day after I finished, Roz Stendahl wrote about artistic development, and recommended a watercolor book by Wil Freeborn, Learn to Paint in Watercolor with 50 Paintings.  She wrote about a few ways to approach this book as a project, and so I borrowed the book from my local library.

His style is very different from Joanne Sharpe's, and I'll try to make the project my own.  Here is the first journal page of this new project.  

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

A Visit With Mom


I usually find my mom is sleeping when I visit her in the care home.  In the winter, when I reach out to hold her hand, she makes a face and says "oooo, cold".  Then she rubs my hands to warm them up.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

A New Journal Begins with Cars


My new Stillman & Birn (Alpha Series) journal begins with a few cars.


My husband's brother has been travelling in South America.  His wife has been posting great photos on Instagram and Facebook.


Vintage cars are a frequent feature of the streetscape in Colonia del Sacremento in Uruguay.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Testing, Testing 1-2-3


I love the dot cards that Daniel Smith makes available; they allow you to try out paints before you buy.  The New Gamboge is a lovely warm yellow that I might have to have.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Simple Mason Jars


In one "Simply Painting" class we painted mason jars several times.


I always thought that glass was too hard to paint, but not if you paint it simply!


After all, I will never be a realistic artist, so any subject can be tackled.


Saturday, December 8, 2018

My Next Sketchbook


My sister knows how to make me happy - she bought me a Stillman & Birn sketchbook for my birthday.  Many urban sketchers use these books and I will finally get to try one!

Friday, December 7, 2018

Simply Backgrounds - Part Two


In this lesson we added backgrounds to the flowers we painted earlier.


I'm not sure which I like better - with or without the coloured backgrounds.




Thursday, December 6, 2018

Simply Backgrounds - Part One


These backgrounds are another lesson in Joanne Sharpe's class.




I like the fields of colour for text too!

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Same Subject, Different Approaches


I drew this with waterproof ink and then added watercolor.


In this one, I sketched with watercolor, trying out the skills I learned in Joanne Sharpe's "Paint Simply" class.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

New Journal


This is the cover of a sixteen page journal made from watercolor paper.  It measures 7 1/2" square.  I don't often make journals from watercolor paper, mostly because it seems "too precious".  Now that I've finished it, I can confirm that it is not my favorite paper for a journal, but primarily for other reasons:
  • it is impossible to see my lettering guide through the paper without a lightpad.  (My tablet works well for this, though.)
  • the texture of the cold press paper isn't the best for pen work
I actually got over the "too precious" problem quite quickly - go figure!

Monday, December 3, 2018

When You Really Look


It is surprising what you notice when you really pay attention to the world around you.  Waiting for the light to change, I noticed how massive this tree is.  The tree is in front of a church, which is quite a large building itself.



Friday, November 30, 2018

Peaceful Start to the Day


One of my favorite times of the day is the early morning peace I share with God and my journal.  Oh yeah, and my green coffee cup!

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Dentist Swag


The only good thing about going to the dentist is the swag you get.  And the swag is more interesting when you draw it.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Art Time


By now, you've seen my green "morning coffee cup" several times.  That isn't the only time of day that I find time for drawing.  In the late afternoon I video chat with my sister across the country and we work on projects while we chat.  This pewter beer stein sits on my desk and holds the tools I reach for often. 

Monday, November 26, 2018

Simply Stems


This is another lesson from Joanne Sharpe's "Painting Simply" class.  Eventually, these are supposed to have backgrounds added to them.  I'm a fan of white space, though, so I might not be able to bring myself to do that.  I like them just the way they are!

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Paint Simply


These are more lessons from Joanne Sharpe's "Paint Simply" class.



Saturday, November 24, 2018

Still Learning To See


Learning to see is the most important part of drawing.  I'm always learning.